North African Adventure: Morocco and Tunisia

Sat Apr 25: Arrival / Casablanca

Welcome to Morocco! On arrival you will be met and assisted then transfer to your hotel in Casablanca for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Sun Apr 26: Casablanca / Marrakech

After breakfast set off on a tour of Casablanca, the business capitol of Morocco. See the Medina, the Mohamed V Square, the Central Market, the Royal Palace grounds, the Habbous quarter, and the United Nations’ Place. Drive through the residential area of Anfa and the beautiful Ain Diab Corniche meandering along the Atlantic Coast, bordered with swimming pools and restaurants. Overlooking the Atlantic is the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world and a massive works program for the country of Morocco. Craftsmen from all over Morocco came to help build the mosque, which is a beautiful architectural gem looking out over the water. We will stop here for a visit outside the mosque, then depart for Marrakesh. Dinner and overnight in Marrakesh. (B/D)

Mon Apr 27: Marrakech (sightseeing)

Today we will have a full day exploring Marrakesh, sightseeing throughout this historic city including Koutoubia, the Menara and garden, the Saadien Tombs, and the Bahia Palace. In the afternoon, walk through the colorful souks with their wealth of treasures at the famous Djemaa El Gna Place filled with fascinating characters, fire eaters, teeth pullers, fortune tellers, spice – nuts – incense merchants, story tellers, snake charmers, and tame monkeys, to name a few! Dinner will be outside the hotel at a local Moroccan restaurant, with a live oud musical performance. Overnight in Marrakesh. (B/D)

Tues Apr 28: Marrakech / Aït Ben Haddou / Ouarzazate

After breakfast depart for Ouarzazate through the Tiz-In-Tichka Pass at 2260 meters, enjoying spectacular mountain scenery and views of the valleys below. Visit Ait Ben Haddou, another majestic kasbah, nestled in the midst of a forest of almond trees then on to the kasbahs of Tifoutout and Taorirt. Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate. (B/D)

Weds Apr 29: Ouarzazate / Tinghir / Erfoud

After breakfast we will do some sightseeing in Ouarzazate then depart for the oasis city of Tinghir, known for its lushness and roses that it produces. It is also a the place to begin our exploration of the Todra Gorge, with its ice cold river cutting through the towering sheer rock walls of the mountains. We will explore the gorge then continue to the Dades Valley (Red Valley) and on to Erfoud for overnight. (B/D)

Thurs Apr 30: Erfoud / Midelt / Ifrane / Fes

Erfoud sits at the edge of the Sahara Desert. View the magnificent dunes, then depart for Fes visa Mideldt and Ifrane, a mountain city known as a winter resort area as well as home to one of Morocco’s internationally recognized universities. Continue to Fes for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Fri May 1: Fes (city tour)

Spend the day exploring Fes. Our tour will include the medieval medina, where the craftsmen still work in their age-old traditions. Visit a traditional house converted into a museum, walk through the narrow passageways of the medina where no cars or trucks are able to fit and all goods for residents and merchants must be delivered by mule or camels, see a tannery at work creating the softest leather goods with a traditional all natural process, and see artisans working in a pottery shop and a carpet shop, creating the beautiful works of art that Fes is known for. Dinner and overnight in Fes. (B/D)

Sat May 2: Fes / Meknes / Rabat

After breakfast depart Fes for Rabat with a stop in the Imperial City of Meknes, “The Moroccan Versailles,” which was founded at the end of the 17th century by Moulay Ismail. Visit the medina and the old palace and stables. Continue to Rabat, the “Imperial Garden City” and also the administrative capitol of the kingdom. Our sightseeing tour includes the Kasbah of the Oudayas, the Hassan Tower and Mosque, the splendid Mohamed V Mausoleum and the Mechouar – the ramparts and walls surrounding the Royal Palace. Check in to our hotel for overnight in Rabat. (B/D)

Sun May 3: Rabat / Casablanca / Tunis

After breakfast check out and transfer to the airport in Casablanca for our flight to Tunis. Welcome to Tunisia! On arrival at the airport you will be met and assisted, then transfer to the hotel in Tunis for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Mon May 4: Bardo/Medina/Carthage/Sidi Bousaid

After breakfast at the hotel, visit Bardo Museum, home to the largest collection of mosaics in the world. Continue to see the old Medina in Tunis, then have time for lunch at leisure. The tour picks up with a visit of the Carthage Roman sights and its museum. Afterwards, drive to the village of Sidi Bousaid. Enjoy free time wandering the winding streets of this hilltop town. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Tunis. (B/D)

Tues May 5: Kairouan/Gafsa/Tozeur

Check out after breakfast and depart to Kairouan. Kairouan is an Islamic Holy City and includes several mosques. It is famous for its leather goods and carpets. Visit the great Mosques of Kairouan Okba and Sidi Shahbi and the pools, then continue to Sbeitla, a Roman city. Visit the ruins including the three temples, arches, theater, baths, ancient oil press and more. Drive to Gafsa to see the Roman pools, then on to the oasis city of Tozeur. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Tozeur. (B/D)

Weds May 6: Tozeur/Chbika/Tamerza/Tozeur

In the morning, we will tour the oases in Tozeur and visit of Dar Chariet Museum. In the afternoon we will visit the Saharan village of Nefta. Dinner and overnight in Tozeur. (B/D)

Thurs May 7: Douz/Matmata / Gabes / El Jem / Sousse

Breakfast at the hotel, then we departure to Douz, crossing the salt lake of Chott El Jerid. We will have a stop along the way so you can see the salt formations and the expanse of the lake. Continue to Douz for an optional camel ride on the sand dunes . Continue to Matmata, to visit the underground troglodyte houses of the Berbers. We depart to Gabes where we will visit the Berber market. Continue to El Jem to visit the Roman coliseum. This is the second largest coliseum outside of Rome and has is very well preserved. Continue to Sousse. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B/D)

Fri May 8: Sousse/ Hammamet / Tunis

After breakfast drive to enjoy a short stop at Port El Kantaoui, a seaside resort village and marina. Continuation to Hammemet to visit its old medina. Lunch at leisure. Departure to Tunis. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Tunis. (B/D)

Sat May 9: Departure

After breakfast, transfer to the airport, assistance for departure. (B)